The Good Book (book)
Encyclopedia
The Good Book is a book written by A. C. Grayling
. It was published in March 2011 by Walker & Company (a US imprint of Bloomsbury) with the subtitle A Humanist Bible, and in April 2011 by Bloomsbury with the subtitle A Secular Bible.
The book was designed as a secular alternative to religious text, and to be read as a narrative drawing on non-religious philosophy, including that from Ancient Greek, Chinese, Roman, Indian and Arab civilizations
, as well as the European Renaissance
and the Enlightenment. The book also contains a summary of scientific discoveries from the 19th century to the present day.
The Good Books organizational system is similar to that of the Bible
. It is divided into fourteen books (Genesis, Wisdom, Parables, Concord, Lamentations, Consolations, Sages, Songs, Histories, Proverbs, The Lawgiver, Acts, Epistles, and The Good). Each book is divided into short chapters, and each chapter is divided into numbered verses, so that chapter and verse can be referenced numerically.
The volume's final book features a version of the Ten Commandments
(The Good 8:11):
These come with the post-thought that the reader "at least, sincerely try" and an addendum in (The Good 8:12), "Add to these ten injunctions, this: O friends, let us always be true to ourselves and to the best in things, so that we can always be true to one another."
, David Sexton described the book as: "unreadable, not merely just because it is boring but because it is nauseating". A.N. Wilson, writing in The Spectator
, described the book as "baffling". Wilson questioned the need for a 'secular Bible' and the number of writers attibuted within the work who were notably religious in outlook. Genevieve Fox, writing in the Telegraph, found the book "unconvincing", while Christopher Hart
, writing in the Sunday Times concluded that: "Compared to the original, it’s a molehill at the foot of Everest". Reviews in The Observer
and Private Eye
satirised the book for its arbitrary rejection of religious content and the proselytising of the author. It received a critical review in The Guardian
, but did receive a positive review in the Sunday Express - where Terry Waite
praised it "as a source for inspiration and wisdom".
A. C. Grayling
Anthony Clifford Grayling is a British philosopher. In 2011 he founded and became the first Master of New College of the Humanities, a private undergraduate college in London. Until June 2011, he was Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck, University of London, where he taught from 1991...
. It was published in March 2011 by Walker & Company (a US imprint of Bloomsbury) with the subtitle A Humanist Bible, and in April 2011 by Bloomsbury with the subtitle A Secular Bible.
The book was designed as a secular alternative to religious text, and to be read as a narrative drawing on non-religious philosophy, including that from Ancient Greek, Chinese, Roman, Indian and Arab civilizations
Islamic Golden Age
During the Islamic Golden Age philosophers, scientists and engineers of the Islamic world contributed enormously to technology and culture, both by preserving earlier traditions and by adding their own inventions and innovations...
, as well as the European Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
and the Enlightenment. The book also contains a summary of scientific discoveries from the 19th century to the present day.
The Good Books organizational system is similar to that of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. It is divided into fourteen books (Genesis, Wisdom, Parables, Concord, Lamentations, Consolations, Sages, Songs, Histories, Proverbs, The Lawgiver, Acts, Epistles, and The Good). Each book is divided into short chapters, and each chapter is divided into numbered verses, so that chapter and verse can be referenced numerically.
The volume's final book features a version of the Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
(The Good 8:11):
- Love well
- Seek the good in all things
- Harm no others
- Think for yourself
- Take responsibility
- Respect nature
- Do your utmost
- Be informed
- Be kind
- Be courageous
These come with the post-thought that the reader "at least, sincerely try" and an addendum in (The Good 8:12), "Add to these ten injunctions, this: O friends, let us always be true to ourselves and to the best in things, so that we can always be true to one another."
Editions
- The Good Book: A Humanist Bible. New York: Walker, 2011. ISBN 9780802717375.
- The Good Book: A Secular Bible. London: Bloomsbury, 2011. ISBN 9780747599609.
Reviews
The Good Book was subjected to a generally critical reception by the media. Writing in the Evening StandardEvening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
, David Sexton described the book as: "unreadable, not merely just because it is boring but because it is nauseating". A.N. Wilson, writing in The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
, described the book as "baffling". Wilson questioned the need for a 'secular Bible' and the number of writers attibuted within the work who were notably religious in outlook. Genevieve Fox, writing in the Telegraph, found the book "unconvincing", while Christopher Hart
Christopher Hart (novelist)
Christopher Hart is an English novelist and journalist. He writes for The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The Literary Review, and The Bookseller, and is literary editor of the Erotic Review...
, writing in the Sunday Times concluded that: "Compared to the original, it’s a molehill at the foot of Everest". Reviews in The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
and Private Eye
Private Eye
Private Eye is a fortnightly British satirical and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop.Since its first publication in 1961, Private Eye has been a prominent critic and lampooner of public figures and entities that it deemed guilty of any of the sins of incompetence, inefficiency,...
satirised the book for its arbitrary rejection of religious content and the proselytising of the author. It received a critical review in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, but did receive a positive review in the Sunday Express - where Terry Waite
Terry Waite
Terry Waite CBE is an English humanitarian and author.Waite was Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie's Assistant for Anglican Communion Affairs in the 1980s. As an envoy for the Church of England, he travelled to Lebanon to try to secure the release of four hostages including journalist John...
praised it "as a source for inspiration and wisdom".
External links
- Page about The Good Book, bloomsbury.com.
- Aitkenhead, Decca. "AC Grayling: 'How can you be a militant atheist? It's like sleeping furiously'". The Guardian, 3 April 2011.
- thgdbk - snippets from the book